Mary E. Kollmer Horton, PhD, MPH, MA

Biography

Mary Kollmer Horton is the Director of the Medical Student Research Office, Assistant Professor in the Office of Educational Programs, and Adjunct Faculty with the McGovern Center for Humanities and Ethics.  Dr. Horton holds two master’s degrees from Columbia University, one in Sociomedical Sciences (MPH) and one in Psychiatric Epidemiology (MA), and recently earned an interdisciplinary humanities doctorate (PhD) from Emory University entitled An (Un)Natural Alliance: Medical Education and the Humanities. The Rise and Fall of the Institute on Human Values in Medicine (1971-1981). This work focuses on mid to late-twentieth-century efforts to integrate humanities into medical education and uses the tools of historical analysis and sociological theories to understand the complexities of incorporating humanities content into medical education. Horton’s academic interests include the use of humanities in professional education, the history of American medical education, gerontology, the history of psychiatric care, and recent efforts in neurodiversity.

Prior to arriving at McGovern Medical School, Dr. Horton was an Assistant Dean for Student Affairs and Professional Development at Emory University’s Laney Graduate School and a member of the leadership of Emory’s School of Medicine MD/PhD Program leadership team. She has served on the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) committees related to physician-scientist training and presented on the importance of training physician scholars in non-traditional fields, such as the humanities and social sciences. She currently serves on the AAMC Southern Group for Education Affairs (SGEA) Humanities in Medicine Special Interest Group. Horton has over 20 years of experience working with adult learners on professional development and academic advancement.